Dough dividing and rounding machine



Sept. 28, 1937. P. BLUM ET AL 2,094,289

DOUGH DIVIDING AND ROUNDING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1935 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenfurs:

v Pehsr Blum and Franz Peher Blu by M p 3 P. BLUM ET AL DOUGH DIVIDING AND ROUNDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1935 Invenfnr's: Pehar Blum and Franz Pehzr Bl by M Sept. 28, 1937. P. BLUM ET AL 2,094,289

' "nouaa mvmme AND ROUNDING MACHINE 1 Filed July 9, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet} v 15 5 -55 eel Inventors: 4 Pehzr Blum 3nd Franz Pehzr Blu p 8, 1937. P. BLUM ET AL 9 DOUGH DIVIDING AND ROUNDING MACHIN Filed July 9, 1955 and FrnzPeha y w Sep&. 28, I937. BLUM ET AL 2,094,289

DOUGH DIVIDING AND ROUNDING'MACHINE v Fil-Qd July 9, .1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 PeharBlum and FranzPeferBl m Invenhnrs: Y

Patented Sept. 1937:. Q 1

4 UNITED STATES noUGn.

Peter Blmn and Peter 2,094,289 mvmmc AND momma PATENT ow-1c:

Blnm, Halle-Saale,

Germany Application in, a, 1935, Serial No. 30.430 InGermany.May9,1934

13 claims, (on. 1011-20) Our invention relates to machines for dividin and rounding dough, in which batches of dough after having been placed by the operator on the working table of the machine, are successively pressed and divided into a'number of portions of practically equal weight, whereafter those por-r tions arerounded so as to present balls of uniform size, which when baked are known as rolls. I

The invention relates more especially. to -improvements in dividing and rounding machines of the more advanced type, in which all the work connected with the pressing, dividing and round- I ing of the dough is performed in the machine by mechanical force. 1

The various objects aimed at by this invention and the advantages" obtained will be fully understood by reviewing still more in detail the manner of operation of machines of the type set forth, as described for instance in United States Patents 1,303,454 (Bertram) and 1,851,328

(Rausch).

With those machines, which are often' euphemistically called-in the trade automatic, by means of suitable controls, derived from the driving shaft, the several operations-such as closing the press mould, dividing the dough into portions and rounding the latter are indeed performed automatically in one continuous course of operations, and the main driving shaft of thermachine is thereupon automatically declutched at the finish of each complete working process;

see page 1 lines 10-12' of Patent 11851328 (Rausch) and claim 1 of Patent 1,303,434 (Bertram) ,--see also page 1, lines 3955.

. Stopping the machine to run-after having v delt with one batch of uough-means,-that the machine must'be re-started by the operator for each of the following batches of dough, that isin practice about 3 times per minute. I

Inherent to this manner of working the machine are a number of drawbacks, known in detail to practitioners, which, briefly defined, comprise constant strain on the operator's attention, calling for greater mental and physical concentration, speedy wear and tear of all those machine parts and mechanisms, including clutches, cams, levers, etc., which become disengaged, and must be re-accelerated in speedy succession, high consumption of power, reduced average working speed and reduced output of the machine.

The principal object of this invention is to overcome the said drawbacks by providing a dough dividing and rounding machine of improved design, which needs not to be, restarted by the operator in speedy succession but continues to run after each complete working process, and is self-acting in a higher degree than machines known before.

In connection therewith the invention aims at thus re-designing and structurally improving dough dividing and rounding machines of the dough is divided and'rounded is opened immediately after the rounding operation is finished.

Attention is directed to the fact, that with known dough dividing and rounding machines 'the mould is opened aftera fixed interval no matter whether the rounding operation of the machine lasts all through its fullest possible term typeset forth, that the mould within which the I or is adjusted for and finished within a shorter period of time.

Another important feature of the invention consists in the provision of automatic controlling and safety devices so designed and cooperatively interconnected with the driving mechanism of the machine, that mischief and accidents, which may result from casual hindrances and irregularities in charging in due course anew batch of dough into the machine, or from failing to timely withdraw 'the rounded pieces of dough from the machine, which accidents may endanger the operators life and will at least interfere with theproper dividing and rounding of the dough,

are eliminated.

The. nature and scope of the invention are briefly outlined in the appended claims and will be more fully understood by the following speciiication taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a section taken vertically and along the central axis of symmetry through a dough dividing and rounding machine structurally improved according to this invention and being shown by way of an example.

Fig. 2 is a section vertically taken through the machine at right angles to the section shown v a rounding plate having a structurally modified actuating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a section taken vertically on line V in Fig. 6 through a structurally modified 'machine designed according to this invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken vertically on lines VI, VIa in Fig. 5 through the machine of Fig. 5 and in planes at right angles to that of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing some details of the actuating means of the press mould and divider as set for a relatively long subsequent rounding operation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken vertically through the dough dividing and rounding machine of Figs. 5-7, the press mould and divider being in elevated position; Fig. 8a shows the divider in its lower position.

Figs. 910 are diagrams intended to elucidate the different positions and the cooperation of those machine elements, by which the mould is opened and closed andthe rounding table is given a gyratory motion for a shorter or longer period of time.

Figs. 11-14 diagrammatically illustrate the construction and working of an electric safety device for automatically declutching the machine in case of irregularities.

Figs. 15-18 show another electric safety device of modified design.

The dough dividing machine, structurally improved according to this invention and shown in Figs. 1-2 by way of an example, comprises:

I. A machine frame l-2 of ample rigidity.

H. A dough spreading and dividing device hereinafter described with all details, which is slidably mounted within the upperportioh 2 of the machine frame for being moved up and down and being temporarily arrested automatically for longer or shorter periods of time in its upper and lower positions.

III. A dough treating viz. supporting and rounding table, described hereinafter with all details, which is slidably mounted on the lower portion l of the machine frame and adapted to perform a gyratory motion in response to a preceding downward motion and dividing faction of the dough dividing device.

IV. Driving, actuating, interlocking, guiding, adjusting and controlling means, described hereinafter, for imparting the aforesaid motions to the dough dividing and rounding devices in constant succession and due sequence, for controlling their proper cooperation, and for automatically stopping the machine in case of failure to withdraw in time the dough carrier plate from the machine or to place a fresh dough carrier plate onto the machine.

The dough spreading and dividing device comprises: A spreader 45 and a divider 46, both of known design and being cooperatively associated with each other by a reciprocating shaft 44, fixed to the divider 46, and by selfacting locking means 50, 5|, 52 designed and working on the order of those described in my United States Patent The latter comprise a notch formed at 50 in the shaft 44 for engagement by a spring loaded latch 5|, fulcrumed on the upper plate of the spreader and cooperating with a wedge shaped key 52 (Fig. 2a), which reciprocates jointly with shaft 44; the latter is formed with a collar and is resiliently and slidably attached to a sleeve 4 enclosing a spring 53, which is adjustable as to its working pressure by a screw 55 and a contact and guide member 54.

A quadrant gear wheel, indicated at 5, which meshes with a toothed rack 6 formed at the sleeve 4 (Fig. 1), and is keyed to a rocking crank shaft '|-8, by which the said sleeve 4 and the actuating shaft 44, slidably and resiliently mounted therein, receive their reciprocating movements up.and down; on the said rocking shaft 1 double armed levers 40 are fulcrumed, which are free to swing up and down independently of shaft I, and to which guide rods 3,3 carrying the spreader 45 are linked at 3a; the weight of the spreader is almost entirely counterbalanced by weights 4| attached at the levers 40 this way of suspending the spreader 45 by means of balance weights is an import feature, because the spreader 45 is thus free to gradually rise during the rounding operation from its lower most or closed position into a released position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in response to the increasing growth of the diameter of the pieces of dough under treatment; a spring catch 42, 43 of the ball-and-notch type for supporting the divider 46 in its uppermost position, namely when the crank shaft 1, 8 oscillates through such a large angle, shown in Fig. 10, that the quadrant 5 comes out of gear with tooth rack 5 of the sleeve 4.

A yoke 36 is bolted to the reciprocating shaft 44- for cooperation with the mould ring 41 and with the coupling mechanism of the rounding table 48; gravity actuated hooks in the former bell crank levers 35a. are pivoted to said yoke 36 for engaging and disengaging a flange projecting from the mould ring 41; dogs 38b are hinged to the frame 2, which are swung out of the path of levers 36a, when the divider 46 rises carrying with it the mould ring"; the latter is disengaged from the hooked levers 33a, when the divider 45 begins its downward stroke, and drops upon the dough carrier plate 43 resting on the rounding table 4.

A shank 36 downwardly projecting from yoke 36a is formed thereon, which has a'notched end for bearing against and inter-engaging itself with a spring loaded bolt 33-34; the latter is slidably mounted in a bushing 35 and provided at its upper end with a hooked catch 31 adapted to engage the notched end of shank 36'; bolt 34 snugly fits into and resiliently engages by means of said spring 33 and a nut a rocking lever fulcrumed at 28; the latter has a forked arm 23 engaging with its forked ends the mechanism for giving a gyratory motion to the dough rounding or treating table 43; as seen in Figs. 2 and 2b the latter is carried by cross shaped guide blocks 48a, 43b engaging guide notches 48., 48", which are formed on the upper face of frame I and at the bottom side of the rounding table 48 at right'angles to each other.

The mechanism for imparting a gyratory motion to-the rounding table 48 comprises: a rotary shaft 22, coupled with a prime mover for instance by means of a conical belt pulley 23 (Fig. 1) or a set of gear wheels 23' (Fig. 2), and being arranged in substantially vertical position, underneath the dough treating table 48; a coupling link in the form of a bell crank lever 24, 24' fulcrumed at the top of shaft 22 and linked by its upper arm 24 to a crank pin 21, which is rota'tably mounted by means of a bushing in the hub of table 48; the lower arm' 24' of said lever snugly fits into an eyepiece downwardly projecting from a slotted disk 26, which is-rotatably mounted within a crosshead '25 and secured in its position by a washer ring; crosshead 25 slidably engages guide pins, fixed in the frame I, and is' adapted to be bodily reciprocated in vertical direction by the forked lever 28, which engages pins 28', projecting fromsaid cross head; on moving upwardly the crosshead 25 the coupling link 24, 24' is swung about its fulcrum into the inclined position shown in Fig. 2 and in turn the rounding table 48 is shifted from its normal or idle position-'-coaxially to shaft 22-into its working position-excentrically to shaft 22.

As long as the arm 24 of the coupling link is in its vertical or central position, the rounding table 48 remains rest, while crank pin 21 rotates idly about its own axis; by the time the coupling link 24, 24' reaches its inclined operative which the rounding table bodily nioves'during its gyratory motioncan be adjusted by means of a rotary cam 3i and a handle 32 attached thereon (Figs. 1, 4).

The mechanism for actuating the spreading and dividing device comprises:

A rotary crank shaft l8, l3, l9, coupled by a worm gear 28-2l (Fig. 2) with the driving shaft 22, referred to above; and a pitman 9, which has a slotted or lost-motion section at H for engagement with pin l3 and'is linked at 8' to the crank shaft 1, 8; the active length of said lost motion section II, within which crank pin I8 is free to move, can be changed by an adjusting device comprising a sliding block l2 and ascrew and nut gear l5, IS; the nut is is adapted to be revolved by a pair of bevel gear wheels and a handle I4. 4

By lengthening or shortening the active length of the lost motion section II of pitman 9 the rounding action, to which the divisional pieces of dough are subjected, is accordingly lengthened or shortened so as to suit best the specific nature of the dough under treatment,its greater or lesser plasticity etc'.

When the lost motion section II of the pitman 9 is set for the greatest possible length the crank 8 for actuating the spreading and dividing de-v vice will move through a relatively small angle as seen in Fig. 9; while the crank pin ll of rotary shaft l9 moves from c to b the. crankl is swung upwardly with the result, that thespreading and dividing device 45, 48 is lifted from the rounding table 48; the latter is fully open and accessible to the operator, when the crank pin l3'reaches point a, indicated by adotted circular line; the table 48 will remain open andaccesslble as long as crank pin l8 moves from a. to c, that is in practice for an ample period of time, about 4-5 seconds, during which the plate carrying the pieces of dough, which were rounded during the preceding complete working process, must be replaced by a fresh plate carrying the next following batch of dough.

The said fresh batch of doughis pressed and divided, while the crank pin l3 moves from c to d, and the divisional pieces of dough are rounded, while the crank pin i3 moves from d-e. On comparing Figs. 9-10 as to the respective positions ofpointc it will be noted, that-a great- 8 1 er length of thev lost motion section II in pitman proportion to the shorter length of the said lost motion section.

It will further seen from Fig. 10,- that also in cases, when the machine is set for working wit a shorter rounding period, immediately after the rounding action is finished crank 8 is swung upwardly past P ints I and a, where the table 48 becomes accessible,--;and into a much higher position b than in the case of Fig. 9; while crank 8 swings from f to b and back the quadrant 5 is out of gear with the tooth rack 6 and the spreader and divider 45, 48 are meanwhile supported by auxiliary means such as a spring catch 42-42, referred to above.

The dough dividing and rounding machine improved according to this invention is provided with a safety device, shown in Figs. 1, 11 to 14, for automatically stopping the machine to run in case of failure to timely put a fresh plate 49 car-.

rying the next following batch of dough into the machine;-said safety device comprises an auxi liary electric circuit marked by'dash lines at E, a master switch S of known design for closing and breaking an electric power circuit, which is "adapted to be worked manually and electromagnetically and which presents by itself alone no specific part of this invention, and double break switch of special design:

Said master switch S comprises, a manually operable push bar i for losing the electric threephase power-circuit, on which the electric motor M (Fig. 2), runs; another push bar 0 for manually Y breaking said electric power circuit, and an electromagnet m, by which the electric power circuit is automatically broken in cases of danger in response tothe closing of the auxiliary circuit E.

According to this invention a self-acting double break switch is provided for closing said auxiliary circuit E, of which some characteristic phases of operation are shown in Figs. 11-14 of the'drawings and which comprises, two spring loaded contact keys A and B, which are stationarily fixed in the machine frame I above the rotary shaft i9 and are connected in series with the auxiliary circuit E. and two contact plates connected with each other for cooperation with said keys A and B; a thrust bolt 8| having a bevelled end and being fixed to contact key A for cooperation with a thumb 80, which is keyed 0 to the rotary shaft L9 in such position, that contact is madeby key A in regular intervals just before crank pin l3 reaches point e, that is before the spreader and divider 45, 46 start on their downward stroke; another thrust bolt 82 attached to the upper contact key B and being loaded by a coil spring 84, which rests on a bracket of the machine frame; said spring 84 resiliently supports a ball bearing having an upper and a lower plate and being so designed, that a feeler 83, which is fixed to the upper plate of the ball bearing and slidably flts into a hole in the rounding table 48 is free to follow the gyratory movements of the rounding table 48. a

As long as the feeler 83 is pressed down by a carrier plate 48 contact key B is kept in its in- It will be operative position shown in Fig. 11. noted from Figs. 12 and 13, that the double break switch A--B described does not close the auxiloperator has accidentally omitted to place in due course a fresh carrier plate 49 on the machine,

- (Fig. 14) namely by the time the machine is just about to start a new cycle of spreading, dividing and rounding operations.

The safety device described, wherein an auxiliary electric circuit E and a double break switch and a master switch S are used, maybe structurally modified to advantage in such manner, that the electric power circuit is also automatically broken in cases, where the operator fails to timely withdraw the carrier plate 49 with the rounded pieces of dough thereon.

Figs. 15-18 show a double break switch of special design, by which this is accomplished, and which comprises a thumb 88' keyed to the rotary shaft I9 for cooperation with a spring actuated contact key A, whereby the latter is closed periodically (Fig. 17) in the same manner as described with reference to Figs. 11-14; a resilient contact key B engaged by a thrust rod 81, which is loaded by a spring 88 (Fig. 15) the latter hearing against a collar fixed to said thrust rod 81 and being supported by the machine frame I; through a hole in frame I the said thrust rod 81 slidingly passes and is guided therein; another thrust rod 85, which being under the control of springs 84 and 90, is slidingly guided in a hole of bracket I and snugly fits in a slot 88 in the machine frame I, so as to be capable of being resiliently depressed by reciprocal cooperation of spring 84' and a feeler 83'-which exactly correspond in their function to that of spring 84 and feeler 83 described above with reference to Figs. 11-15- and of being thrown aside, when being in its It will be seen from Figs. 16-17, that, whenever carrier plate 49 remains untimely in its place, thumb 88' will cause the contact key B to be thrown into its closed position, and that since contact A is likewise in its closed position the result is, that the power circuit is electromagnetically broken by the closed auxiliary circuit E in both cases, namely when carrier plate. 49 has not been withdrawn up to the last possible moment, (Fig. 1'7) or when a fresh carrier plate has not been placed on the rounding table 48 of the-machine (Fig. 18) by the time the spreading and dividing devices start on their downward stroke.

Various other modifications may be conveniently made in the structural details of dough dividing and rounding machines of the improved design described above without substantially departing from the spirit and the salient ideas of this invention.

I Structurally modified mechanisms for impart mg a gyratory motion to the rounding table 48 are shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

The mechanism shown in Fig. 3 comprises, a

forked lever I29, fulcrumed at I28 on the machine frame and being cooperatively associated with the notched shank 36' through the connecting members described above, namely spring 33, bolt 34, bushing 35, and a catch 31 hinged to said bolt; a friction clutch, of which the driving member 30 is axially slidable on rotary shaft 22, by means of a feather-andeslot gear (not shown); while the driven member 30' is journalled in the machine frame and formed with a disc having a crank pin I2'I attached, which engages the rounding table I48.

The provision of a friction clutch 30, 30' insures a gentle engagement and setting into motion of the rounding table I48 through its actuating mechanism without shocks, which is a desirable feature because the frictional resistance offered by the divisional pieces of dough to the rounding table I48 has its maximum value at the beginning and during the early part of the rounding operation; said resistance greatly exceeds the resistance presented by the pieces of dough during the rest of the rounding operation. For the same reasons the main driving shaft 22 should be provided with ane'nergy storing element or power accumulator, such as a rather heavy and massy rim indicated at 23" in Fig. 1, which is formed at the pulley 23 and enables the latter to act as a fly-wheel.

Because of the power stored within said pulley 23, 23" the major part of the relatively large energy required during the early stage of the rounding operation is supplied by said pulley 23 itself-viz. not by the electric driving motor or other prime mover;-hence a smaller size and cheaper motor M will suffice for doing the work, which may be chosen consistently with the average load but not for the peak loads occurring only during the aforesaid limited working periods of the machine. 1 Y

- Other advantages accruing from the fly-wheel action of pulley 23, 23 consist therein, that the working of the machine is equalized also during the spreading and dividing operations and is rendered more uniform with consequent reduction of wear and noise.

The structurally modified mechanism'for imparting a gyratory motion to the rounding table 248 shown in Fig. 4 comprises, a bell crank lever I24 fulcrumed on the top end of rotary shaft 22 and being pivotally connected with a crank pin I21, which is rotatably mounted within the hub of table 248; the lower arm of lever I24 slidably engages by means of a ball bearing I24 an annular groove formed internally of a crosshead I25;

the latter slidably engages guide pins and is adapted to be bodily reciprocated by a rocking lever (not shown), which engages pins I29, laterally projecting from the crosshead I25.

On being moved upwardly the crosshead I25 will swing the bell crank lever I 24 into an inclined position, in which the crank pin I21 is excentrically displaced relatively to the rotary shaft 22 and the table 248 is thus given a gyratory motion. In Figs. 5-8 of the drawings a dough dividing and rounding machine of improved design is shown exhibiting additional important features' of this invention.

Reviewing the working of the spreading and dividing device, described with reference to Figs. 1-2, 9-10 and briefly called henceforth divider; it will be recalled, that, the actuating mechanism for raising and lowering the divider is purposely so designed, that the latter ascends from its lowermost position immediately after the rounding operation is finished, and that on reaching its upper dead point position the divider is temporarily arrested with the obje'ctof leaving an ample period of time-or in other words-of producing a prolonged interval-during which the rounding table 48 is open and accessible, so that the operator can replace at ease the carrier plate 49 with the rounded pieces of dough by the next following dough carrier plate.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l-2 the said prolonged interval is created by a mechanism comprising a rotary crank I0I3, an oscillating crank 8, 8 and a pitman 9, the latter cooperatively interconnecting said cranks and having a lost-motion section II of variable length.

Other means, mechanism or expedients for pro- The mechanism cooperatively interconnecting the spreader I45, divider I46 and mould ring I41 ducing the said prolonged interval may be conveniently provided, as shown hereinafter. For instance instead of raising the divider into an upper dead-point position just suf hciently high as to render the rounding table 48 accessible the divider may be raised to a still higher dead point position-higher than strictly necessary and required for the accessibility of the rounding table 48-the ultimate object being the same: to gain time in favor. of the operator until the divider re-descending blocks the rounding table."

A dough dividing and rounding machine, redesigned with the object of raising the divider into an abnormally high upper position, is shown in Figs. 5,-8 and comprises, a frame IOI,- an electric motor M, with which the main driving shaft I20 is coupled by means of a set of gear wheels 23a; an auxiliary shaft 9, coupled with the shaft I20 through a worm gear (not shown) and having key'edto it a crank IIO, the pin II3 of which engages a slotted lever 12,-13 fulcrumed at 18 on the frame IN; the slotted section" of the crank pin II3 moves along said curved portion (Fig. 6), the divider then being in its lower position; a crosshead 10 having a slotted central portion 1I the latter snugly fitting over therocking lever 12 and a wedge shaped key 15, which is slidably and adjustably mounted thereon by means of' a guide member 14 and a screw-and-nut gear 16, the latter having a handle 11 attached; connecting rods 69, 69 slidably mounted in the machine frame I0I, which are adjustably fixed at their lower ends to said crosshead 10 and at their upper ends to the housing'l 56 of the divider.

which is described in detail hereinafter.

It will be noted more especially from Fig. 8, that there is no upper frame comparable to frame 2 of Fig. 'l for guiding the divider in its reciprocating movements, the only guide members being the connecting rods 69, 69".

The divider comprises, a spreader of known design consisting of an upper plate I45jand a lower plate, which are spaced from each other and are slidably fixed Within the housing 56 by means of guide rods I03, I03; weighted-levers 65, linked to the'upper ends of said guide rods at N311 and fulcrumed on a shaft 64, which is carried by sup-' ports 62 fixed to the mould ring I41; the spreader I45 is counterbalanced to practically its full weight by said weighted levers 65; by a nose 63 projecting'fromsupports 62 (Figs.'5.6) themovements of the spreader I45. in upward direction are controlled; a divider proper I46 presenting a net work of knives of known design and being.

cooperatively associated with the spreader I45 and with its actuating mechanism in a mannerwidely known; a mould ring I41 formed with a flange at its upper end, and being slidably mounted within a flanged ring 58, which is attached at the bottom of housing 56 for cooperation with mould ring I41; as seen in Fig. 8 the latter is carried by said ring 58, while the divider rises into its upper position; on being lowered the flange of the mould ring comes into engagement with a plurality of stops 60, of which only one is shown in Fig. 8, and which keep the mould ring I41 out of direct contact with the rounding table 348.

Fig. 6 shows a structurally modified arrangement, in which the mould ring 58 is formed with noses 59 laterally projecting therefrom andcooperating with stops 59, which support the mould ring I41v in its operative position.

with each other and with the housing 56 and the rounding table 348 comprises a shaft I44notched at I50, which is resiliently held within a hood 51 of housing 56 by a spring I53, the tension of the latter being capable of adjustment by means of a screw I55 and a disc I54; 9. spring loaded latch I5I fulcrumed on the spreader I45 and being cooperatively associated with the notched shaft I44, I50 and with a wedge shaped releasing key (not shown), attached to shaft I44, as described above with reference to 52 in Figs. 2 and 2a; a contact bolt I36 secured to the housing 56 (Fig. 5) for engagement with a thrust bolt I34, which is slidably mounted in a guide member I35 of frame IOI tosaid thrust bolt I34 a forked lever 229, fulcrumed at 228, is resiliently attached by means of springs I33, I38 and a nut I39; by a rotary cam I3I having a handle I32 attached for being set m different positions (see Fig. 3) the movements of the lever 229 and in turn the.

excentric displacements of. a crank pin 221 are controlled: Crank pin 221. corresponds as to its design and cooperation with the rounding table 348, with the rotary shaft I20 and lever 22!! exactly to pin 21 described above with all details and with reference to 24, 25, 26 of Figs. 1 and 2: It will be recalled that in accordance to the excentric displacement of said crank pin the rounding table is given a gyratory motionf'which gradually increases as to the diameter of the circular path,

in which the rounding table moves.

Referring once more to the operation of the spreader I45, described above, it will be recalled that the spreader is released during the dividing operation and must be lifted immediately thereafter in order to provide ample play for the pieces of dough rapidly growing in diameter on being rounded and transformed into balls I have found in the course of my practical work, that it is very important, that the .sp'reader should be forcibly lifted, namely by positively acting means, instead non-lubricating medium-dough, and that by.

said frictional resistance the'lifting action of the weighted levers 65 upon the spreader I45 is greatly impaired.

With theobject of insuring a speedy lifting of the spreader I45.in a reliable and positive manner I prefer to provide a selfacting mechanism shown by way of an example in Fig. 6, which comprises, a pair of superimposed levers 61, 68 fulcrumed in the housing 56, of which the upper lever 68 'is. geared with a toothed portion I031. of rod I03 attached to spreader I45; the lower lever '61 is adapted to impart a lifting motion to the upper lever 68 and in turn to the rod I03 on coming into contact with a stud 66 (Figs. 8, 8a) attached to mould ring I41, when the housing I 56 descends. v

A'weighted lever 18 'fulcrumed on the machine [frame may beconveniently provided for counterbalancing the weight of the divider as seen in Fig. 6.

After the lifting of the spreader I 45 has beenis completed by the weighted levers 65 whereupon the parts concerned will be in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The selfacting electric safety device shown in Fig. 6, of which the principal partsfeeler, contact keys, auxiliary circuit and master switchare indicated at 83", A", B", S" .corresponds in itscooperation with the dough carrier plate 49 and a rotary thumb 80" exactly to that described above with reference to Figs. 1, 11-14.

Briefly summarizing the operation of the machine shown in Figs. 5-8: e I I While the crank H0 revolves with the rotary shaft H9 from its lower position, shown in Fig. 6, into its upper position, shown in Fig. 8, the divider is simultaneously raised by the lever I2, crosshead and connecting rods 69, 69'- into its idle position, in which the divider knives I46 are retracted into the spreader I; meanwhile the plate 49 carrying the divisional pieces of dough, which were divided and rounded during the last cycle of working operations of the machine, should have been withdrawn and a fresh carrier plate 49 with next following batch of dough been put onto table 348.

While the crank H0 revolves from its upper position shown in Fig. 8 into-the position indicated by dash lines in Fig. 6 the divider descends into its operative position; during the descent of the divider first the mould ring- I41 strikes with its noses 59 against the stops 59' (Fig. 6) and is thereby arrested; thereupon the press plate of spreader I45 comes into contact with the dough (Fig. 8a) and transforms the latter into a disc of uniform thickness; by the pressure exerted thereby upon the spreader I45 and the consequent compression of spring I53 latch I5I isautomatically released, whereupon the divider knives I46 passing out of the spreader I45 will 1 be protruded into the dough by the shaft I44 descending jointly withv hood I 56, and eventu ally contact bolt I36 engaging thrust bolt I34 will cause the table 348 to be given a gyratory motion.

As explained above, shortly before the descent of the divider hood I56 is finished, the spreader I45 is positively lifted thus allowing the divisional pieces of dough to freely grow in diameter while being rounded and transformed into balls.

The divider-remains in its lowermost position while pin II3 of crank H0 moves within the are shaped portion of slot I3 of lever 12; however by withdrawing the wedge 'I5 to a greater or smaller extent from the slot 1| of crosshead I0 and thus producing a lost-motion action of the lever I2 as seen in Fig. 7, comparable to that, which was described with reference to pitman 9 and its slotted section II shown in Figs. 1-2, 9-10, the rounding operation may be extended (Fig. 7) or shortened (Fig. 6), so as to suit the specific plasticity or other properties of the dough under treatment and attain the best results.

What we claim is:

1. In a doughdividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be rec procated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, a main drive shaft, actua'ing means for alternately imparting to said dividing devce and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles of operation, said actuating means comprising a rotary crank shaft coupled with said main driving shaft by a reduction gear, an oscillating crank shaft for actuating the dough dividing device, a pitman cooperatively'interconnecting said crank shafts and being formed with a lost-motion section, and adjusting means for changing the active length of said lost-motion section, said main drive shaft being continuously driven and in constantengagement with said actuating means.

2. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting to said dividing device and said dough treating table their, respective movements in successive closed cycles of operation, said actuating means comprising a main driving shaft, a rotary crank shaft coupled with said main driving shaft by a reduction gear, a rocking crank shaft for actuating the dough dividing device, a pitman cooperatively interconnecting said crank shafts and being formed with a lostmotion section, and adjusting means for changing the active length of said lost-motion section,said adjusting means comprising a block slidingly mounted in said section and a screwand-nut gear for displacing said block.

3. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, 01' a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, a main drive shaft, actuating means for alternately imparting to said dividing device and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles for operation, said actuating means comprising a rotary crank shaft coupled with the former by a reduction gear, a rocking lever, having a slotted section for cooperation with said crank shaft, a crosshead having a lost-motion section and engaging thereby the said rocking lever, rods interconnecting said crosshead and dividing device, and adjusting means for changing the active length of the lost-motion section of the crosshead, said main drive shaft being continuously driven and in constant engagement with said actuating means.

4. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means-for alternately imparting to said dividing and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles for operation, said actuating means comprising a main driving shaft,

movements. a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting to said dividing device and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles of operation,- a plurality of guide notches being formed in said machine frame and at the bottom side of the dough treating table respectively at right angles to each other, and cross shaped guide blocks being provided, fitting into said notches and slidingly supporting the dough treating table.

6. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and'from said table for =cooperation therewith, andactuating means for alternately imparting to said dividing device and said dough treating table their respective move ments in successive closed-cycles of operation;- the dough treating table being cooperatively associated with a rotary shaft arranged underneath the latter in substantially vertical direction thereto, a coupling link fulcrumed at the top of said shaft so as to rotate with the latter and "to be capable of being tilted from a vertical pcsition, coaxial to the said shaft, into an inclined position, a crank pin engaging the dough treating table and being pivctally attached to' said coupling link, and'means for tilting the latter.

'7. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to 1 be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting to said'dividing device and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles of operation, the dough treating table being cooperatively associated with a rotary shaft arranged underneath the latter in substantially vertical direction thereto, a coupling link fulcrumed at the top of said shaft so as to rotate with the latter and to be capable of being tilted from a vertical position, coaxial to the said shaft, into an inclined position, a crank pin engaging the dough treating table and being pivotally attached to said coupling link, and meansfor tilting the lat-- ter,--said tilting means comprising an actuating arm angularly attached to said coupling link,

a crosshead engagingsaid actuating arm and being adapted to be bodily reciprocated, and means for reciprocating said crosshead. i 4

8. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory Rmovements, a dough dividing device, adapted tobe reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting to said dividingdevice and said dough treating table their"respective movements in successive closed cycles of opera-f tion, the dough treating table being cooperatively associated with a rotary shaft arranged underneath the latter in substantially vertical direction 1y attached to said coupling link, a crosshead engaging said actuating arm and being adapted to be bodily reclprocated, and means for reciprocating said crosshead,said reciprocating means comprising a forked lever fulcrumed on the ma-' chine frame and engaging said crosshead, a coupling bolt resiliently engaging said forked lever,

and a contact bolt attached to the dividing device for cooperation with said coupling bolt.

9. In a dough dividing and rounding machine" the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and

being adapted tov periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewitlmand actuating means for. alternately imparting to said dividing device and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles of operation,-said dough treating table being cooperatively associated with a rotary shaft arranged in substantially vertical direction thereto, means for temporarily coupling'said rotary shaft with the dough treating table so as to impart to the latter gyratory movements, and a pulley keyed to said rotary shaft and having a relatively heavy rim formed thereon was to act as a fly-wheel.

10; In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device,- adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting to said dividing device and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles of operation,- said dough dividing device comprising a mould ring, formed with a flange at its upper end, a divider knife and a spreader slidably arranged within said mould ring, a reciprocating housing formed with a flange for engagement with said mould ring, so as to lift and lower the latter, a shaft slidably mounted within said housing and engaging said spreader and divider, spring controlled means for disengaging the spreader from said shaft when the dough has been spread out and is under pressure, and means for positively lifting the spreader from the divided dough.

11. In a dough divlding'and rounding machine the combination witha machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting to said dividing device and mould ring, so as to lift and lower the latter, a shaft slidabiy mounted within said housing and engaging said spreader and divider, spring controlled means for disengaging the spreader from said shaft when the dough has been spread out and is under pressure, and means for positively lifting the spreader from the divided dough,-- said lifting means comprising a guide rod, attached to the spreader and slidingly associated with the said housing, a tooth rack being formed at said guide rod, a stud fixed on said mould ring and levers fulcrumed in the said housing for cooperation with the said stud and guide rod, namely lifting the latter and in turn the spreader, when the housing approaches its lowermost position. i

12. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame. of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting tosaid dividing device and said dough treating table their respective movements in successive closed cycles of operation,

- the dough treating table being provided with self-acting means for throwing the machine out of operation in cases of failure to put a fresh dough carrier plate on the empty dough treating table.

13. In a dough dividing and rounding machine the combination with a machine frame, of a dough treating table, carried by said frame, and being adapted to periodically perform gyratory movements, a dough dividing device, adapted to be reciprocated towardand from said table for cooperation therewith, and actuating means for alternately imparting to said dividing device and said dough treating table their respective movements to successive closed cycles of operation, the dough treating table being provided with self-acting means for throwing the machine out of operation in cases of failure to put a fresh dough carrier plate on the empty dough treating tabla-said self-acting means comprising an electric power circuit, an electric motor, connected with said power circuit, a rotary shaft driven by said motor, an electric auxiliary circuit, a master switch adapted to electromagnetically break the said power circuit, a double break switch having two spring loaded contact keys, which are arranged in series to each other for making and breaking said auxiliary circuit, a feeler bolt attached to one of said keys for cooperation with the dough carrier plate respectively. a contact bolt attached to the other con-- tact key, and a rotary thumb fixed on said rotary'shaft.

' PETER BLUM.

FRANZ PETER BLUM. 

